Held annually on 26 June, it was created to raise awareness about the importance of refrigeration technologies in everyday life and to raise the profile of the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump sector.

[1] The day was chosen to celebrate the birth date of Lord Kelvin on 26 June 1824.

In October 2018, ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) pledged support for World Refrigeration Day.

[4] In February 2019, the United Nations Environment Programme pledged support at the UNEP national ozone officers meeting in Paris.

[5] The inaugural World Refrigeration Day was held on 26 June 2019.